Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.
The suspect was arrested at the airport’s departure hall while attempting to board a British Airways flight, BA082, bound for London Heathrow Airport on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said a search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons and concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper.
“A 74-year-old grandpa, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered concealed in his luggage.
“The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London, United Kingdom, for a vacation, was arrested at the departure hall of the Abuja airport while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow, London, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
“During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons,” the statement partly read.
Babafemi said the agency also recorded a series of arrests and seizures in other parts of the country.
In Lagos, the NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.
He said the suspect was with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Monday, March 9, arrested Mrs Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites, Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud.
“She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She confessed that the illicit drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later arrested the same day, while his wife was immediately set free,” Babafemi said
He added that Olatunji admitted ownership of the drugs during interrogation, while further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.
In another operation on Lagos Island, the NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after recovering 68,000 pills of tramadol loaded in a truck and allegedly meant for transportation to the Benin Republic.
Babafemi said a follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment.
He added that a parcel containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol prepared for waybill delivery was recovered from the suspect’s shop.
Another raid at the market also led to the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin, with 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection recovered.
In separate operations, the anti-drug agency officers arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386 kilograms of skunk in Bebeji, Kano State, while another suspect, Isah Wako, was apprehended with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.
In Edo State, Babafemi said operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested. During the operation, 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on two farms, while 16.5 kilograms were recovered.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, the NDLEA officers, in collaboration with officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, also intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden in two containers that had earlier been placed on a watchlist following intelligence reports.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers of the agency’s commands in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Edo states for the arrests and seizures recorded in the past week.
He urged them to sustain efforts aimed at reducing both the supply and demand of illicit drugs across the country.
By: Solomon Odeniyi
